Key Takeaways

1. Support gems are crucial for maximizing your skill power in Path of Exile 2, offering significant boosts to your main abilities.
2. Jeweller’s Orbs are the key to unlocking additional support gem slots, but they are rare and require careful planning or trading.
3. Strategic use of these orbs on primary skills and builds ensures optimal performance, especially for endgame content.

The Role of Support Gems in Path of Exile 2

If you’re playing Path of Exile 2, one of the most vital mechanics you’ll want to master early is the use of support gems. These gems amplify the power of your active skill gems, offering enhancements that can make the difference between a good build and an extraordinary one.

It’s not just beginners who sometimes overlook the importance of support gems. Even seasoned players can get caught up in chasing better gear while neglecting their skill setups. But let’s be clear: maximizing your support gem slots should always take priority. The question is, how do you add those valuable slots?

How to Add Support Gem Sockets to Skills

Adding support gem slots to your skill gems is a straightforward but resource-intensive process. To accomplish this, you’ll need Jeweller’s Orbs, a specialized in-game currency item. Jeweller’s Orbs come in three tiers, each responsible for increasing the number of available support gem slots on a skill gem:

1. Lesser Jeweller’s Orb: Adds a third support gem slot.
2. Greater Jeweller’s Orb: Adds a fourth support gem slot.
3. Perfect Jeweller’s Orb: Adds a fifth support gem slot.

Steps to Add Support Gem Slots:

1. Obtain the Jeweller’s Orb: Acquire the appropriate Jeweller’s Orb for the slot you wish to add.
2. Open the Skill Gem Menu: Navigate to the skill gem screen.
3. Activate the Jeweller’s Orb: Select the orb in your inventory, then click on the skill gem you want to enhance. This will add the additional support gem slot.

It’s important to note that you cannot skip orb tiers. For example, if your skill gem has two support gem slots, you’ll need a Lesser Jeweller’s Orb before you can use a Greater or Perfect one.

Where to Find Jeweller’s Orbs

1. Lesser Jeweller’s Orb

• Typically drops during the campaign, often starting at the end of Act 2 and more frequently in Act 3.
• It’s not uncommon to find a guaranteed drop of this orb in Act 3, making it easier to get started.

2. Greater Jeweller’s Orb

• Rare drops in high-tier maps.
• Expect to find one after clearing approximately 100+ high-tier maps if you’re playing consistently.

3. Perfect Jeweller’s Orb

• The rarest of the three, with drop rates significantly lower than the Greater variant.
• Some players report finding one after 200-300 high-tier maps, though this is heavily luck-dependent.

Farming and Trading for Jeweller’s Orbs

Given the rarity of these orbs, farming them directly can feel like an uphill battle. Instead, players often turn to currency farming strategies to amass wealth and purchase these orbs from other players via Path of Exile’s trade system or the in-game Currency Exchange.

• Lesser Jeweller’s Orbs are relatively affordable and commonly traded.
• Greater Jeweller’s Orbs currently trade for 9-28 Exalted Orbs, depending on the market.
• Perfect Jeweller’s Orbs can cost anywhere from 64 to 142 Exalted Orbs, with prices fluctuating dramatically.

Choosing the Right Skills for Support Gems

Not every skill in your build needs five support gem slots. The focus should be on your primary skill, which handles the bulk of your damage or utility. For example:

• Mapping Builds: Skills like Raging Spirits for Minion Witches benefit greatly from extra support gems, especially when clearing large groups of enemies.
• Bossing Builds: Heavy-hitting skills often rely on precise setups with multiple synergistic support gems.

Advanced Tips for Support Gem Usage

• Prioritize Your Core Skills: Use Jeweller’s Orbs on the skills that provide the most significant impact for your build. Early investment in your main skill ensures smoother progression through tougher content.
• Adjust for Flexibility: Many top-tier builds use different skills for mapping and bossing. Having multiple skill gems with additional support slots can provide a versatile playstyle.
• Experiment with Synergy: Support gems like Multistrike, Increased Area of Effect, or Elemental Damage Support can completely change how your skills perform. Try various combinations to find what works best for your build.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can I skip tiers when upgrading support gem slots?
No, each Jeweller’s Orb must be used sequentially. For example, you cannot apply a Perfect Jeweller’s Orb to a skill with only two support gem slots; you must first use a Lesser and Greater orb.

Q2: Are there guaranteed ways to farm Jeweller’s Orbs?
While Lesser Jeweller’s Orbs are more common in the early game, Greater and Perfect orbs rely heavily on RNG. Farming high-tier maps increases your chances, but trading remains the most reliable method.

Q3: How many support gem slots should I aim for?
Most builds focus on maxing out their primary skill with five support gem slots. Secondary skills may only need three or four slots, depending on their purpose.

Q4: Should I trade for Jeweller’s Orbs or farm them?
If you’re struggling to obtain Greater or Perfect Jeweller’s Orbs, trading is usually faster. Use efficient currency farming strategies to generate Exalted Orbs and purchase the orbs from the trade market.